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Entries with the tag: Mike+Babcock
Can’t Argue With Babcock’s Logic
by Paul on 11/19/09 at 10:10 AM ET
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Babcock on the Brad May non-goal because of intent to blow the whistle.
In case you missed the play, watch it at A2Y.
12:04pm, added the video from the Stars feed below…
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Babcock Waves His Canadian Flag
by Paul on 11/02/09 at 07:42 PM ET
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from Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star,
Having coached in the U.S. the past decade, Babcock isn’t shy anytime he gets a chance to wave the maple leaf.
“I’m going to talk about the opportunity to be an Olympian and the opportunity for Canadians to understand how important it is for the country to embrace this,” Babcock said. “Having it in your country and getting to share all the great things about Canada is fantastic.”
From a personal standpoint, Babcock rates the impending experience in Vancouver as his greatest.
He knows he faces immense pressure and second guessing from a nation with lofty expectations, but his background as an avid hunter tells him the thrill is only amplified by the pursuit of such an elusive prize as a gold medal.
“It’s the greatest opportunity you can have as a hockey coach,” Babcock said. “To me, this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, since I was a boy, to be an Olympian.
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Afternoon Line
by Paul on 10/10/09 at 02:08 PM ET
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With Franzen gone, we’ll REALLY learn how good—or mediocre—a coach Mike Babcock is in Detroit.
-Stan Fischler via his Twitter.
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Babcock With Numerous Topics
by Paul on 09/28/09 at 08:50 AM ET
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Exhibition season, prospects, outlook for the regular season, trip to Sweden and the Detroit Lions are some of the topics Mike Babcock discussed last night.
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Morning Line
by Paul on 09/22/09 at 10:41 AM ET
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“He’s in way better shape. He’s way quicker than he was last time here. So now we need a big-time effort each and every night, and I think we’re going to get that.”
-Wings Coach Mike Babcock on Todd Bertuzzi. Read more from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
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A Little Bitter Tim?
by Paul on 08/29/09 at 06:05 PM ET
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from Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly,
What was going through the mind of that brilliant strategist Mike Babcock this week, while he was skating players hard on the first day of his Team Canada Olympic orientation camp in Calgary?
Talk about brain cramps from one of hockey’s more obnoxious coaches – and we haven’t heard a single person question that serious lack of judgment.
Most of Babcock’s players hadn’t seen a pair of skates – much less laced them up – since last spring. True, Simon Gagne had been skating for two weeks. But he wasn’t skating hard.
Is it any wonder Gagne tweaked his right groin?
Good thing they had insurance, huh? Just to protect the players from Babcock.
continued & more topics too…
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Morning Line
by Paul on 08/27/09 at 09:52 AM ET
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“He’s a Type A personality. He’s a very focused, intense individual. He doesn’t move on anywhere until it’s done. If it’s not done right, he doesn’t care what the name is on the back, where you’re from or who you play for. You got to do the job. When he says you’ve got to play 200 feet, you got to play 200 feet. The game we want to play (in Vancouver) has a lot of pressure in it, a lot of skating in it. There’s no resting on the ice.”
-Ken Hitchcock on Mike Babcock. More on Babcock from Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated.
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Babcock In Charge
by Paul on 08/25/09 at 10:01 PM ET
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from Jeff Marek of CBC Sports,
First, this is Mike Babcock’s team. Period.
Yes, he is flanked by some outstanding assistant coaches in Jacques Lamaire, Ken Hitchcock and Lindy Ruff - who since he is the youngest of all assistant coaches gets to do the grunt work like shovel snow in front of the net - but make no mistake about it, Babcock is in charge.
Even at the opening press conference on Monday where Babcock laid out his now infamous “200-foot” hockey player analogy, you can tell in every interaction that the coach is leading this squad. Right away Babcock is on the ice at the opening session.
He gives out the instructions, he runs the drills and yes he stops players who aren’t doing exactly what he wants. And that includes the Sidney Crosby/Rick Nash/Jarome Iginla line, which he stopped Tuesday and made them start a drill over.
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We Haven’t Had Much Babcock Talk Lately
by Paul on 08/25/09 at 07:40 PM ET
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Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock talks to the media after day 2 of Team Canada’s orientation camp in Calgary, Alberta.
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Babcock On Team Canada Orientation Camp
by Paul on 07/30/09 at 11:26 AM ET
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from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
If you think Canadian hockey fans are swept up in an Olympic frenzy now, Team Canada coach Mike Babcock wants you to remember one thing: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Just wait until Canada’s roster is announced, Babcock told NHL.com, and you’ll really see a nation of hopeful nitpickers, naysayers, pundits and prognosticators.
“I’m glad I coach in the U.S., honestly,” Babcock added. “It’s just going to go crazy.”
Speculation about who will make the team figures to run rampant until the roster is made public in December. The chatter will pick up steam next month when Calgary becomes the center of the country’s hockey universe for four days as Canada holds its orientation camp Aug. 24-27.
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Advice To Team Canada Coach
by Paul on 06/26/09 at 12:51 PM ET
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from Mike Toth of Sportsnet,
Suck up to Sid the Kid, the same guy who ruined the Red Wings dream of winning back-to-back Stanleys.
Running the risk of being labeled a “homer” by naming Chris Osgood to Team Canada, and incurring Ozzie’s wrath if he doesn’t.
Convincing the Red Wings huge European brigade that he still loves them, even though he’ll go to war against them in Vancouver.
And, oh yeah; trying to make sure that an older Detroit team doesn’t get sick and tired of the same old message.
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Team+Canada,
Report- Your Team Canada Coach
by Paul on 06/23/09 at 07:30 AM ET
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from Tim Wharnsby of the Globe and Mail,
Hockey Canada and everyone involved has been tight-lipped about the appointment, but a source confirmed last night that Yzerman will announce Babcock as the coach most likely on Thursday in a press conference to take place a few blocks from Montreal’s McGill University, where Babcock played defence....
The only part of Yzerman’s announcement that will be a surprise will be the assistant coaches. Babcock’s assistants are expected to come from a group that includes Ken Hitchcock (Columbus Blue Jackets), Claude Julien (Boston Bruins), Lindy Ruff (Buffalo Sabres), Barry Trotz (Nashville Predators) and Randy Carlyle (Ducks).
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Babcock Before Game 7
by Paul on 06/12/09 at 12:30 PM ET
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Q. Any lineup or line changes for tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: No.
Q. This morning when you woke up, did it feel any different?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think pretty much I did exactly what I always do. Went for a run. Went through the game. Did all the stuff I’ve always done. I think yesterday for me was different because it’s exciting. I mean, it’s just flat out exciting to be here.
Anywhere you go in this town, people are talking about it, and excited about it. And plan on watching it. It should be good.
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Babcock Talk On Thursday
by Paul on 06/11/09 at 01:20 PM ET
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Q. It seems like each of these games has had its own sort of identity or personality instead of one sort of leading or following naturally. Do you think that’s accurate? If so, why do you think that dynamic has been this way in this series the first six games?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think four of the games were anybody’s game. I think two of the games were Game 4 and Game 5 to me were one team. I think they’ve both been momentum games where teams have carried momentum for large portions at a time, really tilted the rink. The other team looks like they can’t get out of their end. And then the other team seems to come back, and it just goes back and forth.
We’re not going to have to worry about any of that stuff now. It’s just an opportunity here now for both teams.
You know, I have to tell you I’ve been real impressed. I think they played hard. I think our team has played hard. The playoffs for our team this year has been as big a battle as we’ve ever had for sure. Just with what’s gone on and some of the injuries we’ve had and that. I’ve been really impressed with our team’s will, and our guys’ attitude over the last couple of days. Excited to go.
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Babcock Back In Detroit Today
by Paul on 06/10/09 at 12:22 PM ET
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Q. Obviously, the Pens have had great success in Mellon in the series, and you guys have done really well at Joe Louis. When you looked at the films have you been able to ascertain what the difference is between what’s happening in your arena and their arena?
COACH BABCOCK: I think the teams seem to get centered on time and feel a little more comfortable in their building. And I thought in last night’s game, it’s interesting, because we had three shots in the first period, yet Zetterberg and Datsyuk and Cleary had some unbelievable opportunities that just didn’t go.
I mean, that’s hockey. I thought last night’s game was a real good game. But you’re right. If you look at it, I’ve been in a series exactly like this and we went to Jersey for Game 7 and lost. It was the same thing. Couldn’t win on the road. Couldn’t even touch the puck on the road. It was just ugly. For whatever reason, I’m not sure the number, I think we won 27 games on the road in the regular season. We were the best road team in the NHL.
Going into the series you say to yourself you’re going to win one game. And I think every game in the series with the exception of Game 5 in here and Game 4 in there could have gone either way. Those two games the teams just flat out won the games. Other than that, it’s been real close.
So it’s the greatest stage, the greatest opportunity, and it should be a lot of fun.
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Babcock Before Game 6
by Paul on 06/09/09 at 12:56 PM ET
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Q. Jonathan Ericsson got to hoist the Cup here last year. Obviously, he didn’t play. Can you talk about how he’s evolved this postseason, and how nice it is to have a guy like Nick being a calming influence in the situation like the one we have tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, he’s come a long, long way, obviously. And his development, I think they’ve done a good job. When he came here, if I’m not mistaken, he was a forward. And they kept him in the minors for a long period of time, even though the coach wanted him to come sooner. By the time he got here, he was a good player.
As you can tell by watching him, he’s going to be a good player for a long time. He’s a good first passer, he can play against big people, he’s a good body, good reach, good on the penalty kill. He probably has more offensive flair than he’s shown this far.
But for guys like that in the League, like Cheli and Nick and those guys around you, to talk to you and help you watch where they put their stick and their feet, and how they handle themselves professionally on and off the ice, I think those are invaluable things for a kid.
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High Praise For Babcock
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 06:01 PM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
It has been well documented how Holland and the rest of his front office have excelled like no other NHL club at drafting, developing and assembling championship rosters. But Babcock, perhaps, hasn’t quite got the same amount of credit for his job behind the bench.
“I don’t know if he really does,” San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan told ESPN.com on Monday. “People will say that he has very good players. Well, there’s a lot of teams in the league that have very good players. We’re one of them. We have players that are world-class as well and we’re not playing right now.
“So I think a lot more credit to should go Mike’s way and his staff’s way, as well. They’re well-prepared and they never beat themselves.”
McLellan was an assistant coach here last year, winning a Cup alongside Babcock. He didn’t hesitate one iota when asked to describe him as a coach.
“Two words come to mind: committed and focused,” McLellan said. “He knows exactly what he wants to do as a coach and he knows how he’s going to do it. He has a plan and he knows how he’s going to executive it. That’s a sign of a great leader. The Wings are very fortunate to have him coaching there right now.
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Babcock Today Part 2 (In Pittsburgh)
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 05:05 PM ET
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Q. Can you just talk a little bit about focus and the idea that this is just one game? You’re coming here for one game. Not thinking about the Cup. You’re thinking about winning one game, and whether or not you actually say to the guys, don’t think about the Cup? To what extent do you just say this is only a game?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, we talk about a lot of things. You know, obviously, focus and preparation is absolutely critical, and being ready on time. We came in here last week or whenever it was, you know, with an opportunity and failed to do anything with that opportunity. Went home with two losses.
So here’s another opportunity for us. Hopefully we’ve learned. We haven’t handled the start of the game very good in here. And in the second game in here, we didn’t handle the end of the game very good.
You know, we’ve been in this exact situation before, and we’re going to do everything to be the best we can possibly be.
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Babcock On Monday
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 02:32 PM ET
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Q. I’m sure you were, when you were looking ahead during the season, you thought of the possibility that Helm and Ericsson would play a role in the playoffs. But one, did you anticipate they would play this big a role? And where is Helm’s game now compared to where it was when he helped you last year in the postseason?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, you’re right, I envisioned that maybe both guys would be here and never really thought about Big E playing so much just because we thought we’d have Lils. And, you know, that wouldn’t have worked out that way, probably, because he wouldn’t have been given the opportunity like he was in the regular season.
Helmer was very comfortable with, I mean, he made our team in training camp. With the salary cap we just thought this was better for him. And I never could have thought that he’d be this good. There’s no way. We brought him up in the regular season. We played him in the three hole on purpose. He was good, but not like this. And he’s been very good for us.
With the way things happened for us with Kopecky getting injured, he’s a physical guy for us. He’s getting six finished checks a game and we needed more of that.
So with Pavel injured, what happens is you move someone else up who normally finishes checks for you. Now you become a different looking hockey club. So Helmer has done a real good job to provide puck pressure, physicality, and give us a good face?off presence in the three hole. He’s been good on the penalty kill. So all in all he’s been excellent. The two of them have been great. When you look at Abby and Leino, they did a good job for us, too.
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Sunday Babcock Talk
by Paul on 06/07/09 at 01:11 PM ET
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Q. Mike, given the psychologists role in a head coaching job, and given the potential in swings this series has taken beyond just playing hard and playing smart, what are some of the nuances going into your particular thought process to prepare this team for a desperate situation on their home ice Tuesday?
COACH BABCOCK: It’s the same as always. It’s stuff that you guys, it doesn’t have a enough flair for you, but it’s the facts. And living in the present is no different than what I’m doing right now. If you’re here, you might as well do a good job of it.
It’s the same in our preparation, as much as everyone wants to get caught up in momentum and carryover and all that stuff. I’ve said many times I’m not a big believer in that. I’m a big believer in being prepared, getting focused and executing. If you do all those things, you have a chance to get lucky.
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Coach Babcock After Game 5
by Paul on 06/06/09 at 11:31 PM ET
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Q. Your thoughts on the lift Datsyuk gave the team?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think I said this earlier, if he played the series without Malkin and Crosby and they suddenly come ?? this guy’s one of the best players in the world both offensively and defensively in the winter. Just makes the team more comfortable. We need plays, and suddenly we relaxed and we made plays.
We’ve been able to have success, but it’s been much harder, obviously, without him. And you have to learn to win a different way and find a way. I’ve been very impressed with our guys finding a way. We bought time so he can come back, and ideally he can help us get over the top.
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Mike Babcock This Morning
by Paul on 06/06/09 at 12:04 PM ET
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Q. I’m under the impression you may be unveiling once again the lucky McGill tie tonight? I’m wondering if that’s accurate? And I understand you even have some former teammates and alumni in town, talk about that?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I’m getting a lot of pressure to do that, I can tell you. I got so many emails, there’s like 34 of them. I’ve already talked to security. I said to the security I don’t want them to do anything that could be embarrassing. I like them to have as much fun as they want, but keep them confined to a reasonable amount of consumption and carrying on (smiling).
So I haven’t decided on the McGill tie. I actually bought a tie to wear today, and it wasn’t the McGill tie, but I am getting some pressure. But we’ll decide, I’ve got a little bit of time.
Q. Game time decision.
COACH BABCOCK: There’s a lot of that going on (laughing).
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Babcock’s Reputation On The Line
by Paul on 06/05/09 at 08:46 AM ET
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from Jamie’s Hockey Blog at About.com,
We’ve seen that when the Red Wings are on their game, they will beat Pittsburgh.
Getting them on their game is where the coach comes in, and doing it under less than ideal circumstances should be what sets elite coaches above the pack.
The NHL season is down to a best-of-three. The Stanley Cup is on the line.
So is Mike Babcock’s reputation.
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Coach Babcock Today
by Paul on 06/03/09 at 03:44 PM ET
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Q. Pavel looked pretty good today. Is he pretty close or what do you think?
COACH BABCOCK: I don’t know. What we’ll do is we’ll go for the optional skate in the morning and see how he responded today and see how he felt.
I haven’t talked to him since he got off, and I haven’t talked to Pete. He was still out there well after I got off, so we’ll see how he is.
Q. Maybe we’ll deal in the ifs. If he is available, how much of a difference does he make just in that they have Malkin and Crosby on different lines and he obviously gives you another pretty good shut down guy?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, he’s - I don’t know if he’s a shut down guy, I just think he’s a pretty good player, right. He’s a Hart Trophy candidate. He’s one of the best players in the world. Obviously, we’d like to have him. But it’s one of those injuries. You have some situations at Playoff time, and we have to find a way to overcome, we’ve done a good job.
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Babcock Today
by Paul on 06/02/09 at 12:48 PM ET
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Q. Has Draper been cleared to play by doctors and if so, will he play tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: Yeah, he was cleared before last game. Don’t know if he’ll play tonight. It will be based on Samuelsson. Samuelsson didn’t take the morning skate, so we’ll see what happens there.
Q. Second injury, we just saw Pavel out on the ice. Just your thoughts on him and how does he look today?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I guess he had his best overnight experience that he’s had. And he seemed to have a big turn around. So he was real optimistic here today. I don’t assume that affects today’s game whatsoever, but it could really affect the following game.
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Today with Coach Mike Babcock
by Alanah McGinley on 06/01/09 at 02:20 PM ET
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From today’s press conference with Red Wings’ coach Mike Babcock. Transcript provided courtesy of the NHL.
Q. These teams each have a Hart Trophy finalist, and obviously yours has not been able to play. Two parts, the first part, is it right to rescind the automatic suspension on Malkin? And the second part, are we overlooking the fact that you guys have won two games without your Hart Trophy finalist?
COACH BABCOCK: You have to decide that part. Obviously we’re a much better team to have him playing because he has the puck so much. In my opinion, he’s one of the most dominant players in the game.
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Mike Babcock Today
by Paul on 05/26/09 at 01:28 PM ET
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Q. An update on Lidstrom and Datsyuk?
MIKE BABCOCK: They didn’t practice. Both guys are feeling better. We’ll see what goes on in the skate tomorrow, see if they’re available for that skate.
Q. Given the fact that your team played as well as they did without them, any chance that you would give them...
MIKE BABCOCK: None. If they’re ready, they’re playing.
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Babcock Today
by Paul on 05/25/09 at 12:48 PM ET
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Q. Mike, can you give us an update on your injured three.
MIKE BABCOCK: Who are the three? We got like five of ‘em. Pick which ones you want.
Q. Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Draper.
MIKE BABCOCK: Draper won’t be playing. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are day to day. And I don’t have to worry about it today. We don’t practice or play. So, you know, for a couple more days… I’m hopeful to see Pav and Nik very shortly here.
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Coach Babcock Talks On An Off-Day
by Paul on 05/23/09 at 04:59 PM ET
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Q. Mike, Brian Campbell labeled the Kronwall move as gutless. Whats your response to that?
MIKE BABCOCK: I thought it was a great hockey hit. I thought it was a great hockey hit. So far from being gutless it’s not even funny. He did it right. He didn’t leave his feet. The puck was right in between the guy’s feet. I mean, no way.
Q. Can you update Draper, Datsyuk, their situations for tomorrow? If Draper can’t play, who would replace him?
MIKE BABCOCK: Draper can’t play. Abbie is going to go in his spot. Be good for him. Play his natural position. Datsyuk is going to be the same thing as it was the day before. We’ll see. I noticed his stuff was hanging up. They’re hoping they can get him in his boot and get him going.
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Babcock Goes Big Time - Rome Is Burning
by Paul on 05/19/09 at 08:13 AM ET
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Morning Line
by Paul on 05/18/09 at 11:26 AM ET
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“They got a nice hockey club and, as we sit here and watch them, we’re watching them grow. We can’t wait for them to get into cap trouble, to tell you the truth. When you’re young like (the Blackhawks), and players are playing for cheap, you can have an abundance. But pretty soon, they’re not playing for cheap, and then, that’ll help us out.”
Wings Coach Mike Babcock on WDFN this morning. Listen to the interview at Mlive.
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Detroit Coach Babcock After Game 1
by Paul on 05/17/09 at 07:26 PM ET
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Q. Talk about the job that Dan did today.
MIKE BABCOCK: You know, obviously he’s playing with real good players, playing on a good line. They’re playing against important people in the game.
I thought we were in trouble really off the start of the game, whether it was engagement, whether it was coming off a big series, whether it was not as much time, whatever, we weren’t very good, and they were taking it to us. They were up 1?0. He made a real good shot. Then I thought we settled in and got playing real well after that point. Any time you’re driving into the net, get your stick on a puck, that’s just a good hockey goal, a good playoff goal.
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Babcock Seeks Advice From McLellan
by Alanah McGinley on 05/01/09 at 06:58 PM ET
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From Tim Wharnsby at the Globe & Mail:
San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan, nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy today, spent the three previous NHL seasons as an assistant coach under Detroit Red Wings bench boss Mike Babcock.
The Wings coach acknowledged that he phoned McLellan on Thursday for advice on dealing the Ducks, who upset the Sharks in the first round. But Babcock would not divulge what sort of counsel he received from McLellan.
[LINK]. And here’s another posting from Wharnsby this evening on Kris Draper’s future.
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Babcock Should Be Coach Canada
by Paul on 04/08/09 at 10:07 AM ET
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from Damian Cox of the Toronto Star,
It would be hard to imagine at this point how Mike Babcock could not be named the head coach of the Canadian men’s hockey team for next year’s Olympics.
Perhaps a verbal Avery-ism in front of TV cameras? Revelations that he was actually born in Galveston, Texas rather than Manitouwadge, Ont., and isn’t a Canadian citizen? Perhaps allegations from his McGill University days that he wore an autographed Alexander Ragulin T-shirt under his gear after secretly rooting for Rags and the Russians in ‘72?
Otherwise, while Steve Yzerman has maintained this is a decision that will have to wait until after the current NHL campaign is completed, the 45-year-old Babcock seems destined to be the man to lead the troops into Vancouver next winter.
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Evening Line
by Paul on 03/31/09 at 06:58 PM ET
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“My point is that, six games from now, we’re going to play a team that’s been in the playoffs for a month and half. That team will have engaged physically every night for a while now. They’ve had their heart and soul in it. They’ve built momentum. We’ve been in a different scenario. We’ve had another good season; we’ve got 107 points right now, 49 wins, we’ve had good individual numbers. But the reality you and I both know is that they’re going to drop the puck and the team we’re playing is going to battle for every inch of ice.
“There’s no switch to prepare you for that, so we have six games to make a conscious decision that we want to win, and if you make that conscious decision, that means you’re all in.”
-Wings coach Mike Babcock. More on the Wings from Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.
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Babcock Talks Wings - “We Got One Goalie Playing Better Than The Other Goalie”
by Paul on 02/19/09 at 03:50 PM ET
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The bench boss of the defending Stanley Cup champs joins The Game Plan on Fan590 to discuss being the fastest coach to ever reach 200 wins, his team’s struggles between the pipes, and whether he would be interested in coaching the Canadian Olympic team.
Mike Babcock also talks, Hossa, Lidstrom, the goalie situation and Datsyuk.
Well worth a listen if you are fan of the Wings.
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Classic Babcock
by Paul on 12/10/08 at 03:09 PM ET
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from Fan590,
The bench boss of the Red Wings joined Hockeycentral to discuss his team’s season thus far and to analyse their chief rivals for the Western Conference lead - the San Jose Sharks.
continue to listen…
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Evening Line
by Paul on 11/12/08 at 08:59 PM ET
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“It’s not the way we play defence, it’s the way we turn the puck over in such bad situations that you can’t play defence because you’re on the wrong side of the puck.
“They (Pittsburgh) got three goals on turnovers two feet from the blue-line. They got two goals on fly-bys where we don’t stop at the net on defence. “Then, we took penalties 200 feet from our net. Now, what team am I describing? But that’s the team I coach so oh, oh . . . ”
-Wings coach Mike Babcock. More from Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star.
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Red Wings Talk
by Paul on 10/07/08 at 06:22 PM ET
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Ken Holland and Mike Babcock participated in an NHL tele-conference today…
Q. I was just wondering, could you update us on your roster moves, how you’re getting down to the 23, beyond putting Aaron (Downey) on waivers, please?
KEN HOLLAND: Well, today we assigned Ville Leino to Grand Rapids; we assigned Jonathan Ericsson to Grand Rapids; we assigned Darren Helm to Grand Rapids. We’ve informed Aaron Downey that he’s been put on waivers, and we will readdress his situation tomorrow. And it appears that Jimmy Howard, Darren McCarty and Chris Chelios will all start the year on injured reserve.
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Time To Get Excited
by Paul on 09/18/08 at 04:24 PM ET
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from the CP via TSN,
School is nearly back in session for NHL teams.
The majority of training camps open Friday and there’s no shortage of excitement to be found around the league. Believe it or not, there might not be any team more anxious to get back at it than the defending Stanley Cup champions.
“It’s kind of like school - every kid will tell you he doesn’t like school and yet every kid’s dying to go because they want to see their friends,” Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told The Canadian Press in an interview. “The greatest thing about hockey besides the game is the interaction between the guys.
“I can tell you our guys are all excited.”
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Morning Line
by Paul on 09/04/08 at 07:14 AM ET
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“Africa is like the NHL of hunting,” Babcock said Wednesday in preparation for the opening of camp in two weeks. “When you’re in the tall grass, when it’s 14-feet high and you can’t even see the top of an elephant’s back, when you’re hunting a lion and it’s five feet away and you don’t even know he’s there, that’s scary. It gets your heart going.”
-Mike Babcock talking about his hunting trip to Africa to Dave Dye of the Detroit News.
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Babcock Lets His Hair Down
by Paul on 08/30/08 at 07:28 PM ET
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from Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette via the National Post,
It has been 15 long years since the Montreal Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup, but there is a small group of Montrealers who can boast that they drank from Lord Stanley’s mug this summer.
John Harris, Dr. Jay McMullan, Mike Nelson and Earl Zukerman were among the invited guests when Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock had his opportunity to spend 48 hours with the Cup last month in his home province of Saskatchewan....
Zukerman says that Babcock, despite his fame, has remained the same fun-loving guy he was during his university days.
“He’s a little more self-conscious maybe when people are around,” Zukerman said. “But when he’s with his old gang, he hasn’t changed a bit. It’s just like it was 25 years ago.
“I thought he might send someone to pick me up at the airport, but he showed up himself in shorts, just like any ordinary Joe. The same old ‘Babs’.”
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Babcock Talks Lines
by Paul on 08/28/08 at 03:19 PM ET
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from Craig Custance’s Blog at the Sporting News,
When you’re hunting elephants, lions and leopards, where you’re going to skate Marian Hossa probably isn’t your top priority. I’m guessing staying alive takes precedence. But Detroit coach Mike Babcock is back from a hunting trip to Tanzania and he must have thought about Hossa somewhere along the way because he told me today he has a good idea how the lines will shake out in Detroit.
“I’ll start Hossa with [Pavel] Datsyuk and [Tomas] Holmstrom and [Johan] Franzen, [Henrik] Zetterberg and [Jiri] Hudler will start together,” Babcock said. “Then you go [Dan] Cleary, [Valtteri] Filppula and [Mikael] Samuelsson. That’s as good as any third line in hockey.”
continued with more NHL topics…
added 4:13pm, Ken Holland was on Fan590 a few hours ago. A 15 minute interview, talking numerous topics. Listen here.
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Babcock With The Cup- Part 2
by Paul on 07/31/08 at 12:53 PM ET
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Watch Mike Babcock as he hosts the Stanley Cup and in case you missed part 1, it can be viewed here.
View part 2 below…
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Babcock With The Cup
by Paul on 07/28/08 at 12:03 PM ET
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“A dream comes true!”
Watch below as Mike Babcock takes control of the Cup.
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Babcock’s Day with the Cup
by Alanah McGinley on 07/25/08 at 12:40 PM ET
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From the Stanley Cup Blog at NHL.com,
Just after 9 a.m. that morning, Mike and Maureen Babcock met the plane at the Saskatoon airport and received the Stanley Cup.
There are two things indigenous to Canada – hockey and Tim Hortons coffee, and the Babcock’s merged the two by taking the Stanley Cup to a local Tim Hortons. The only things that could make the morning more Canadian would be if a Mountie carrying a beaver had held the door open for them!
and lots more on Babcock and his face-time with Stanley.
*thanks to Snapshots for the pointer
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Babcock is the Difference
by Alanah McGinley on 06/17/08 at 10:39 AM ET
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From Paul Kukla at NHL.com,
You may think differently, but the talent level of the Wings, after Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom, can be matched by many of the teams in the NHL. You could change the names of players like Franzen, Filppula, Cleary, Samuelsson, Kronwall and others with players from other teams, and you would get the same talent level.
So what made the Wings tick this season? One answer—Mike Babcock. We may never know what kind of motivational tactics he used, we will only know that they worked and it appears they will have a long-lasting effect on the team.
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Babcock Press Conference Full of Zero Surprises
by Alanah McGinley on 06/11/08 at 11:33 AM ET
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The AP’s anonymous NHL source knew what he/she was talking about yesterday. This morning’s press conference in Detroit did indeed announce that Mike Babcock has been signed to 3 more years:
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland today announced the team has signed head coach Mike Babcock to a 3-year contract extension.
“Mike has been a huge part in the Red Wings’ success during his time in Detroit,” said Holland. “We are fortunate to have secured a coach with his work ethic and leadership for another three seasons.”
Press conference can be seen here. Helene St. James of the Free Press states that the deal is believed to be worth $1.5 million per season.
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Report: Babcock Staying in Hockeytown 3 More Years
by Alanah McGinley on 06/10/08 at 09:08 PM ET
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From the AP via KDKA.com:
A person in the NHL tells The Associated Press that Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings have agreed to a 3-year contract for the Stanley Cup winning coach.
The person spoke Tuesday night on the condition of anonymity because the team planned an 11 a.m. Wednesday news conference to announce the deal.
The Wings said Tuesday night they would hold a news conference, but didn’t release details.
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Post-Game with Mike Babcock
by Alanah McGinley on 06/05/08 at 12:00 AM ET
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Q. What was harder, the last 30 seconds or the long wait before the game began?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: You know, even in the last game, the last minute and stuff like that wasn’t long or harder, it was just doing what you do.
The interesting thing is when you’re playing in the Stanley Cup Final like this and it’s a closeout game, the emotion on your bench is so much more than you’ve had to deal with. Getting guys on and off the ice is more difficult, and yet we have a real committed group.
Nicklas Lidstrom, in my opinion, is a phenomenal leader and captain. And with his poise and his skill. And then the support group in Chelios and Draper. And Datsyuk and Zetterberg, for their leadership. You know, we have a very special team, and we’re thrilled to be in this situation, obviously.
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